Detection of genes regulated by EGF in breast cancer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a combination comprising a plurality of polynucleotide probes that are modulated in response to EGF and which are associated with breast cancer, and which may be used in their entirety or in part as to diagnose, to stage, to treat, or to monitor the treatment of a subject with a breast cancer.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A combination comprising a plurality of cDNAs, wherein the plurality of cDNAs consists of SEQ ID NOs: 1-16 or their complements. 
     
     
       2. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the cDNAs are immobilized on a substrate. 
     
     
       3. A high throughput method for detecting differential expression of one or more cDNAs in a sample containing nucleic acids, the method comprising: 
       (a) hybridizing the substrate of  claim 2  with nucleic acids of the sample, thereby forming one or more hybridization complexes;  
       (b) detecting the hybridization complexes; and  
       (c) comparing the hybridization complexes with those of a standard, wherein differences between the standard and sample hybridization complexes indicate differential expression of cDNAs in the sample.  
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , where in the nucleic acids of the sample are amplified prior to hybridization. 
     
     
       5. A high throughput method of screening a plurality of molecules or compounds to identify a ligand which specifically binds a cDNA, the method comprising: 
       (a) combining the combination of  claim 1  with the plurality of molecules or compounds under conditions to allow specific binding; and  
       (b) detecting specific binding between each cDNA and at least one molecule or compound, thereby identifying a ligand that specifically binds to each cDNA.  
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the plurality of molecules or compounds are selected from DNA molecules, RNA molecules, peptide nucleic acid molecules, mimetics, peptides, transcription factors, repressors, and regulatory proteins.